Castello Fonterutoli Chianti Classico Riserva 1997, Fonterutoli

GF Toskanasmaking 11.5.2012:

Innslag av eple og blåbær i nesen. Cascolim med tørre tretanniner. Kjemisk og vi vurderte denne som en ødelagt flaske. Husker jeg var så imponert av denne da den kom, betyr det at Fonterutoli lager opulente deilige viner som har mye smak, men lite struktur og ikke lagd for lagring ?

Tror nok dette var en dårlig flaske når du ser hva winedoctor.com skriver:

Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1997: Not a hint of oxidation anywhere. The colour is maturing, still with a lot of red pigment but bricking a little at the rim, much darker at the core. And the nose is just delightful, full of sweet and leathery fruit spiced with elements of cloves, stewed black cherry and custard powder. The latter will no doubt raise an eyebrow or two, but it is a very typical aroma I find in Chianti from time to time. A very supple and gently composed palate, immediately showing great substance and texture through the midpalate, with smoky and leathery fruit well framed by robust acidity, a very flattering texture and a good vein of resolving tannins. There is still a good sense of extract here too, a tangible flesh to the wine, giving it a full, flattering and handsome although very dry style which I adore. And it is long too, very long indeed. What a joy - I am so glad I held back before reporting in order to try a truly representative bottle of this quite delicious wine.  18.5/20 (April 2010)
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1997: This wine takes a little time to open out and reveal where it really is right now, but it is certainly worth the wait. The colour is red-black, with a dusky maturing hue. It initially has a little volatility, but this blows off to reveal notes of custard - a Sangiovese trait - and dark fruits with a rather meaty, furry, savage-styled fruit. This fruit carried through onto the palate where it has a lovely presence, as the structure builds in grip, showing firm tannins on the midpalate. It has a broadness, but with the freshness of redcurrants, plums and cherries. There is a supple character and a well integrated composition. Although it is perhaps a touch brawny still, overall this is very nicely integrated and right now is simply delicious for drinking. 18.5+/20 (December 2007)
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1997: Showing a little more maturity in appearance, and certainly a maturing fruit style on the nose, but with fine complexity. A medley of black cherry, black olive, leather, and a meaty, smoked bacon character act to entice. Good depth, slightly austere at the start, but opening out on the midpalate to reveal plenty of texture and flavour, but always with that appealing bitter cherry structure underneath. Lovely savoury style on the finish, with a lick of tannin. Still needs 1-2 years in the cellar to be fully ready, but excellent nevertheless. 18.5+/20 (May 2007)
Castello di Fonterutoli Chianti Classico 1997: Still showing a youthful hue at eight years old. Rather restrained nose showing, with a little time, some black pepper, black olives and smoked, spicy meats. Smoothly integrated palate, showing just lovely floral-tinged black olive fruit over a background of gentle, fading tannins. Sappy, with lovely extract, but with good composure. Great length too. This is simply delightful and approachable now, although will be even better in 2-3 years. 18.5+/20 (August 2005)

Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 1998, Casanova di Neri

GF 11.5.2012  Toscanasmaking:

Noe buljong med tynn konsentrasjon. Denne er sliten nå med innslag av kaffe, tørket frukt, soya  og jod. En lite sjarmerende vin og mest sannsynlig ikke en optimal flaske. 82 poeng.

Vi drakk 2005 årgangen på vinmøte hos Knut 24.11.11; Fullblods sangiovese i en moden opulent stil med mye eik. Tråe tanniner nå og en vanskelig vin. Svir fælt i munnen og dette var ikke vellykket. Bør lagres. 85 poeng


Although a relative newcomer (it was founded in 1971), trendsetting Casanova di Neri Winery has become one of the most-respected wineries of Montalcino if not in Italy. This family-run cellar owes its success to a solid track record of powerful, luxuriant Brunellos and to the exclusive crus, Tenuta Nuova and Cerretalto. The past decade has seen a vast change in the winery as it has acquired more vineyards and has installed cutting-edge technology that's pushing it to the forefront of Tuscan winemaking. The wines of Casanova di Neri are renowned for their elegant, modern style and enjoy a steady flow of accolades from specialty magazines and contests the world over. In 2006, the Wine Spectator named their Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova 2001 the world's top wine, calling it "one of the best examples of the recent winemaking renaissance in Tuscany". Of the five wines made here, all except one (the Cabernet Pietradonice) are made with 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso. True products of the warm Mediterranean climate and sandy soils that characterize Montalcino, Casanova di Neri's wines are pungent, complex super high quality wines that can age well for decades.
A small, family company run by Giacomo Neri, Casanova di Neri has only 48 hectares of planted vineyards. Yet those 48 high-density hectares are divided among four separate estates. “Pietradonice” in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, the “Cetine” in S. Angelo in Colle, the “Cerretalto” and the “Fiesole” near the new cellar -- each with its own personality and nuances. Casanova di Neri's new cellar is the culmination of years of work. A three-storey underground cellar, it is perfectly suited to blending and aging the potent wines born here.

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Ugolaia 1999, Lisini

GF Toscanasmaking 11.5.2012:

Mørk vin , middels dybde med oransjerød kant. Ren brunellofrukt i en floral stil med innslag av varmt krydder. Fokusert sunn utviklet frukt med delikate aromaer av røde bær. Sommerblomster med snev av mokka. Jeg har tidligere ikke blitt så imponert av denne produsenten, men dette var bra ! Intens munnfølelse, vinen fyller opp hele veien, er kompleks, elegant og korrekt.  Kompleks og transparent, med en klar referanse til Toscana. Denne produsenten må besøkes ! 93 poeng

Lisini are one of the oldest Brunello di Montalcino estates, dating back to the 17th century, with 10 hectares sited near Sant'Angelo in Colle. Ugolaia refers to a specific single vineyard, whose exceptional fruit is used to make their Brunello Riserva; aged for nearly 4 years in large Slavonian barrels before bottling & release in the fifth year. A great beast of a wine, from a top vintage that will age for a further 10 years yet.

Solaia 1999, Antinori

GF  Toskana smaking 11.5.2012:

Mørk vin med en fløteaktig munnfølelse. Mister friskheten i sin higen etter ekstraksjon.Mye fat. Grov og uelegant. Faktisk enda dårligere enn 2000. 87 poeng.


Vinen har i gj.snitt fått 93.1 poeng på cellartracker og det viser vel forskjellen mellom "US palate"  og "European palate". 

Tasted by Papies on 2/11/2012 & rated 96 points:
Decanted for a good 2 hours and felt like it needed it.
Dark dense colour. Good balance on the nose , sweet dark fruit, oaky notes, some floral note. Lush, well round and very much alive with lots of depth on the palate and this is a wine of serious potential. Once the oak assimilates further this will be a 98+. 96 at the moment and what a wine. If you can wait 5yrs this will be a mesmerising wine.

Chianti Classico Riserva 1997, Nittardi

GF Toskana smaking 11.5.12:

En fremdeles intens purpur farge med antydning til oransj kant. Fresh og deilig i munnen med innslag av sigartobakk, pepper og asiatisk krydder. Spennende nese med sommerblomster og kirsebær. Vinen holder seg godt, men mot Brunelloe`n i rekka (Lisini) blir den nesten flat og smal på smak. Holder seg godt i glasset. 90 poeng.

Fattoria Nitardi is a traditional wine growing estate, situated in the centre of Tuscany between Florence and Siena. The old wine estate used to be a strong hold tower and was first mentioned as “Nectar Dei” in the 12th century. During the 16th century it belonged to Michelangelo Buonarroti who grew his own vines. The quality of the wine was so impressive that Buonarroti sent several bottles of Nittardi to Rome as a “dono genuino” as is written in the letters he sent to his illustrious patrons, Popes Julius II and Leo X.

Today, 12 hectares of vineyards, olive groves and 100 hectares of unspoilt woods encircle the Nittardi Estate. It lies in the middle of idyllic protected countryside and is 8 km from the nearest village, Castellina in Chianti. The vines at Nittardi grow on an ideal site right in the heart of the Chianti Classico region, at about 450m above sea level on the south side of a range of hills. These hills are covered with oak trees that offer protection from the cold winds.

Art on the Bottle

Nittardi has a long history in the world of art, which continues today. Every year an artist designs a label as well as the wrapping paper, which is used for a limited edition of Casanuova di Nittardi wine bottles.

The collection which started in 1981 includes works by internationally known artists such as Valerio Adami, Eduardo Arroyo, Elvira Bach, Corneille, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Alfred Hrdlicka, Horst Janssen, A.R. Penck and Paul Wunderlich and the 2006 Label was designed by Yoko Ono. .

Since the so-called ‘wine miracle’ which saw an incredible increase in quality during the 1980’s, Chianti Classico is traditionally made from the regional Sangiovese grapes. Only 5% of Cannaiolo grapes are added to the wine to make it smoother and rounder.

This Nittardi wine is treated with special care and attention in the vineyards as well as in the cellars. After being cask aged for at least six months the young wine eventually matures into an elegant, richly flavoured red wine which can be aged for long periods of time.

This Nittardi Chianti Classico Riserva is made from only the best pressings of the Sangiovese grapes from the original Vigna Alta of Nittardi. It is vinified separately and aged in French oak barrels for a period of at least 24 months which transforms the quality of the wine.

After bottling, the wine is aged for a further 3 to 5 years in order to expose its full potential. The wine develops a harmonious character full of depth and intensity due to the long maturation period. It is well respected and appreciated in the world of high quality wines.

In these past years Nittardi Riserva was not only awarded the 3 Glasses of Gambero Rosso but also the 5 Star Decanter Award and the highest valuation by the Grand Jury Européen; it was also judged by I Vini d’Italia as best Chianti Classico of its year, with the 5 Bottle title of Vino dell’Eccellenza

Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio 1997, Monsanto

GF 11.5.2012  Toscanasmaking:

Are mente dette var Brunelloe`n. Litt avslepen og matt i fargen, en deilig harmonisk vin, har mistet litt av den yppige bærsødmen denne vinen har hatt hele tiden. Sigar, noe volatil, jordbær, men en vin med tydelig terroirfølelse. Setter seg godt i glasset, en veldig bra 1997. Viser at 1997 ikke bare er opulens, men at de kan lagres. 88-91 poeng. Fellesscore: 90 og den endte på 5. plass.

Denne kan fremdeles kjøpes på Vinmonopolet, men koster hele kr. 927,- . Varenr. 9770501

Solaia 2000, Antinori

GF 11.5.2012  Toskanasmaking:

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese og 5% Cabernet Franc. Uferdig og grønn, men et relativt moderat eikebruk fornemmes. Fremdeles tydelige tanniner i en solmoden litt streversk stil. Paprika og østsidepreg, internasjonal i stilen og det er vanskelig å se at dette er en typisk toskansk vin. Litt appelsinskall og solspray med citrus. Et grønt etterslep av grove tanniner i munnen ødelegger endel. Knut mente denne vinen "byr han imot". Tørr, annerledes og varmere stil enn forventet. Solbær, lakris og sigar. Knut ga denne 83 poeng, Roar ga den 88 poeng. Havnet på 86 poeng og 8. plass. (av 10)

2007 årgangen av Solaia er nå på Vinmonopolet til kr. 1 500,-. Varenr. 4805201. Man får utrolig mange andre gode og bedre rødviner til den prisen....